Feed-water heater and purifier



April 1,1924. v 1,488,696

. H. E. MOFFAT FEED WATER HEATER-ARI.) RURIFIER' Filed Oct. 51. 1921 IN VEN TOR.

7,977,? /Wof/ai ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES eases PATENT orriea.

HENRY E. MOFFAT, OF HIGHLAND PARK, IIIICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-SIXTH TO GEORGE W. MARSHALL, ONE-SIXTH TO GEORGE L. MARSHALL, AND ONE-SIXTH TO- G'AYLORD L. 'MARSHALL, ALL OF DAYTON, OHIO.

FEED-WATER HEATER AND PURIFIER.

Application filed. October 31, 1921. Serial No. 511,659.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, HENRY E. MorrA'r, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Highland Park, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Water Heaters and Purifiers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to feed water heaters and purifiers and the invention consistsin the structural features and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described.

The drawing comprises a view of the invention in sectional elevation.

:In said view the reference character 1 designates a cylindrical casing having pipes 2 and 3 communicating with its top and bottom for respectively delivering and discharging exhaust steam, derived from steam driven machinery of any kind. In the lower portion of said casing there is arranged a partition 4 forming with the bottom of the casing the chamber 5 within which is located oil separating means 5 the details of which do not concern the present invention. A full disclosure of such a means, similar to that shown in the accompanying drawing may be found in applicants Patent 1,455,348, issued May 15, 1923. Above said chamber are extended the several sections of pipes 6, 7, and 8 which conduct a portion of the purified exhaust steam successively through chambers 6', 7 and 8. 9 is a cold water supply pipe discharging in the upper portion of the chamber 8'. Below the outlet of said pipe is arranged a perforated deflector 10 which distributes the discharge over a considerable area. Within each of the chambers 7 and 8' there is arranged, surrounding the corresponding exhaust pipe 7 or 8, a filter bed 11 of excelsior or like. material, through which the feed .water percolates downwardly, depositing its mineral matter and other impurities in said filter, bed. The filtering material 11 restsupon a perforated plate 12 and a sim- 1131* plate surmounts said material. After p filtering through the beds 11, the water drops from the lower lates 12 of said beds through the chambers and 6 in the form of a sprayor rain. Thus the temperature of the feed Water is raised to the boiling point. Through each filter bed 11 there is extended a vertical by-pass pipe 13' which insures a supply of feed water even if, through neglect or other cause, v said beds become solid with mineral matter. Between the sections of pipes 6, 7 and 8, dome shaped deflectors 14 are arranged, which deflect the exhaust steam rising through said pipes laterally into the chambers, 6 and 7 In escaping from said chambers a portion of the steam rises through the filter beds, the balance entering the exhaust pipe above said deflectors. 15 is a valve in the water supply pipe controlled through a rod 16 by a float 17 within the settling chamber 6, so as to out OK the water supply when there is a predetermined accumulation of water in said chamber 6. From the oil separating chamber 5 there is provided an auxiliary outlet 18 having branches 18,

18", and 18 controlled by valves '19. Such portion of the purified exhaust steam as is not required to heat the feed water may be conducted through said branches to radiators, laundry machines or other apparatus. In one of said branches there is provided a check-valve 19 adapted to automatically open under atmospheric pressure to break any vacuum forming within the oil separating chamber. branch 18 has communication through a pipe 20 controlled by a valve 20 with the top ofthe casing 1, the inlet to said pipe being protected by 'a screen 21 within the casing. A check valve 22 in the pipe 20 serves to break any vacuum forming in the upper portion of the casing. 23 is a valve controlling the flow through the exhaust .pipe 6 within the settling chamber 6, a stem 24 being extended to the outside of the casing 1 for control of said valve. The delivery of exhaust steam to the heating chambers 6, 7' and 8 may be so controlled by means of said valve as to establish any desired proportion between the quantities of steam heating the feed water and that supplied through'the outlet 18 to the other apparatus. Within the settling chamber 6 a vacuum breaker 25 is arranged with its inletwithin the exhaust pipe 6, and is provided with a check valve 25 exteriorly of the casing. 26 is a pipe delivering live steam to the oil separating chamber, 27 is a pipe for delivering hot Water from the The upwardly extending lower-most chamber 6 to a boiler feeding pump (not shown) or to any other desired apparatus, and 28 is a pipe taking care of any overflow from the settling chamber 6.

From the preceding description it is be lieved the operation of the described apparatus will be evident. The filter beds 11 acquire a high temperature from the steam rising therethrough so that saidbeds are an effective heating medium for the water, as well as a filtering means. Thefinely divided form in which the water falls through the exhaust steam filling the chambersifi and 7'-is also very conducive to a transfer of hea-tfrom the steam to the water.

The provision of the valve 23 in the pipe 6 permits a regulation of the quantity of purified exhaust steam employed for heating the feedwater so that amaximum portion or said steam may be diverted through the auxiliary outlet 18 for .delivery to other apparatus. Also the provision of said valve is advantageous in permitting a complete shutting off of steam from the chambers 6, 7 and 8, when itis desired to clean said chambers or torenew thefilter beds.

By locating the outlet endof-the vacuum breaking pipe 25 within the exhaust pipe section 6, said end:is protected from the rain of feed water and cannot be closed by mineral deposits from said water, Also this location of the outlet of .the vacuum breaker insures relief of any vacuum occurring in the pipe 6,; betoresuch vacuum can be transmitted t any of the chambers 6, 7' and'8'. V

The provision for introducing live steam to the oil separating chamber by way of pipe 26 permits maintaining such pressure as may be requisite for the apparatus served by the pipes 18, 18*, etc. Also the introduction of a limited quantity or live steam to said chamber is of value in preventing the formation of a vacuum.

An important feature of the described cons ruction is the absolute prevention of any oil becoming mixed with the boiler feed water. It is well known that the presence of oil in the boiler is extremely detrimental to the peration of the same. The presence of oil results in a foaming of the water and also the oil tends to collect-or accumulate as a scum all mineral and metallic-matter with which the water may be charged. When the oil and accumulated matter become heavier than the water they sink from the surface and form a scale on the shellor tubes within reach fthe fire line. This scale excludes the water from contact with driven machinery, the exhaust 'steamiis .dis-

charged, either without utilization "of ':any of the heating properties of said steam, or

there is utilized only a small proportion of the exhaust for heating the boiler teed water. An important economical feature of the herein described apparatus is the {ea-sibility of utilizing substantially the entire heating value or the'exhaust. Also said apparatus permits of varying the pressures or head at which the exhaust steam is utilized in. various heaters or other devices. Thus for example it is desirable to deliver the steam at a considerable lower pressure to heating apparatus above the level-of the steam purifying chamber 5 than to such apparatus at a lower level, than said chamber. A proper relative adjustment of the valves 19 and 23 will secure the desired di ir'erential pressures.

It is further to be observcdthat the invention as compared to. prior apparatus, materially reduces the trouble resulting from creation of vacuums in the casing 1, since the steam supply to the water heater is minimized, The pipe 20 provides an exhaust steam .exit from the chamber 8 when the baclrpressure valve is adjusted to remain lose d.

What I claimas. my inventions is 1. Inat'eed water heaterand purifier, the combination with a casing, of a filter bed therein, exhaust steam chambers being formed above and below said filter bed, an exhaust steam pipe extending through said filter bed and communicating with said chambers, a cold water supply bipe discharging within said casing above said filter bed, an-oil separating chamber having a main outlet to said exhaust steam pipe and having an auxiliary outlet, an exhaust steam supply connection to the oil separating chamber and means ifor variably proportioning the exhaust steam delivery from the oil separating chamber to said main and auxiliary outlets.

2. In a feed water heater and purifier, the combination with a casing, of a filter bed therein, exhaust steam chambers being formed above and below said filter bed, a coldwater supply pipe discharging within said casing above said filter bed, an exhaust steam pipe extending through said filter bed having connection with said exhaust steam chambers, an oil separating chamber-having a main outlet to said exhaust steam pipe and having an auxiliary outlet, a valve. in said-exhaust steam pipe for variably proportioning the flowthrough said main and auxiliary outlets, and control means for said valve extending exteriorly of said casing 3. Ina feed Water heater and purifier, the

combinationwith a casing, of-a filter bed.

therein, exhaust steam chambersbeing formed abovefland'below said filter bed, a cold -water supply pipe -di'scharging;.within said casing,- above 1 said filtenbed, an 1 oil separating chamber, means for delivering exhaust steam to said exhaust steam chamhers from the oil separating chamber, an auxiliary discharge connection leading from said oil separating chamber, and means for. variably proportioning the exhaust, steam delivery from the oil separating chamber to said exhaust steam chambers and to said auxiliary connection.

4. In a feed water heater and purifier, the combination with a casing, of a filter bed therein, a cold water supply pipe discharg ing within said casing above said filter bed, an exhaust steam pipe extending through said filter bed and having communication with exhaust steam chambers formed above and below said filterbed, an oil separating chamber having a main outlet to said exhaust steam pipe, and a vacuum breaker opening into said exhaust steam pipe and having its inlet outside of the casing.

5. In a feed water heater and purifier, the combination'with a casing and a filter bed therein, exhaust steam chambers being formed above and below said filter bed, a cold water supply pipe discharging within said casing above said filter bed, an exhaust steam pipe extending through said filter bed, and opening into said exhaust steam chambers, an oil separating chamber having an exhaust steam inlet and having an outlet to said pipe, and a vacuum breaker having a down turned outlet Within said exhaust steam pipe and having an inlet outside of said casing.

6. In a feed water heater and purifier, the combination with a casing and a filter bed therein, exhaust steam chambers being formed above and below said filter bed, a cold water supply pipe dicharging within said casing above said filter bed, an exhaust steam pipe extending through said filter bed and connecting with said exhaust steam chambers, an oil separating chamber having a main outlet to said exhaust steam pipe and having an auxiliary outlet and a pipe communicating with said auxiliary outlethaving connection with the top of the casing.

7 In a feed water heater and purifier, the combination with a casing and a filter bed therein, exhaust steam chambers being formed above and below said filter bed, a cold water supply pipe discharging within said casing above said filter bed, an oil separating chamber, means for delivering the exhaust steam to said exhaust steam chambers from said oil separating chambers, an auxiliary heating pipe leading from said oil separating chamber, a connection from said oil separating chamber, a connection from said pipe opening into the upper portion of said casing, and a screen within the casing protecting said opening.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with an exhaust steam purifying chamber having a plurality of outlets of a water heater, a pipe leading from said chamber to said heater, a valve controlling said pipe and a pipe leading from another outlet of said chamber for delivering steam to auxiliary apparatus.

10. In a feed water heater and purifier, a casing, steam purifying means within said casing, a feed water heater within said casing, a pipe within said casing for delivering steam from the purifying means to said water heater, a valve within said casing controlling said pipe, and control means for the valve extending exteriorly of said casing.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a steam purifier and a water heater, of a pipe delivering steam from a purifier to the heater, and a vacuum breaker having its outlet within said pipe.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HENRY E. MOFFAT. 

